New Bookstore Focused On Climate Change Joins Madison Community

MADISON, NJ — A new bookshop is opening on Main Street, offering the community a variety of seasonal reading as well as books about climate change.

The Nature of Reading Bookshop, a virtual bookstore well-known in the community for its pop-up events at local markets, will soon open its first brick-and-mortar location on 22 Main Street.

The bookstore is run by Hailey Brock, a Chatham native, who moved back to the area during the pandemic after finishing her studies in the UK.

"Ever since high school, I had been working at The Chatham Bookseller during my academic breaks, and I became manager for about 18 months when I moved back to New Jersey in 2020. I had long loved the bookselling world, and as I typically focused on medieval history during my academic career, I loved the antiquarian book world especially," Brock said.

While thinking about the next steps in her career, Brock stated that she had long-held interests in both bookselling and a strong desire to play any small role in the ongoing climate crisis, which is how the Nature of Reading Bookshop was born.

"Alongside my bookish interests, for years I had the same climate anxiety that affects so many people, especially in my generation. Until the pandemic, I could barely look at climate news without feeling immeasurably hopeless and depressed," Brock said.

"But as the world pushed through the difficult years of the pandemic and we all adapted and changed so deeply, somehow the existential threat didn't seem as grave anymore. We have the solutions, we just need to work to implement them."

The online bookstore first opened on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, as a niche bookstore specializing in both seasonal reading and climate change books.

Brock defines seasonal reading as using books to better connect with the changing seasons. "Seasonal reading is personal, it's about finding what makes you appreciate the natural world the most, what makes you feel most connected and in tune with the cycles that surround us."

The shop's other focus is climate change books, which include any nonfiction or fiction dealing with the climate crisis.

Although no official grand opening date has been set, Brock expects to be open within the next few months. A crowdfunding campaign has also been launched to help fund the grand opening.

Brock expressed her excitement at the prospect of becoming a member of the Madison business community and bringing her love of reading and dedication to spreading awareness of the climate crisis.

"The pandemic, besides giving me the strength to turn my climate fears into action, likewise made me think: why not now? Owning a bookstore always seemed like a distant dream, but I realized I already had the experience, ideas, and passion to start my own shop, and so I sidestepped the fear and got started," Brock said.